The European Parliament is expected to adopt a joint resolution (EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and ECR groups) on Thursday 28 November in Strasbourg calling for support measures for EU farmers affected by US sanctions, within the context of the trade dispute over subsidies to Airbus.
MEP Irene Tolleret, (Renew Europe, France), at the launch of this resolution, described it as “the culmination of true collective work in the general interest of farmers”.
Paolo de Castro (S&D, Italy) called in particular for the margins available in the EU agricultural budget to be used to finance more measures and to launch an extraordinary plan to promote EU agricultural products.
US President Donald Trump has decided to levy a surcharge of 25% on certain European food products (French wines, Italian cheeses, Scotch whiskies, Spanish olive oils, etc.), noted Benoît Biteau (Greens/EFA, France).
MEPs welcomed the European Commission's plan to make the management of ongoing wine promotion campaigns in the United States more flexible so that operators could turn to other non-Member States if necessary (see EUROPE 12376/16). The European Parliament is also calling for similar flexibility in the promotion of other agri-food products affected by US sanctions.
Parliament is warning that the United States may apply a 'carousel' tariff system that could rotate through all agri-food products exported to the United States.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said, “we are determined to find a solution that will allow trade to continue and for workers on both sides of the Atlantic to keep their jobs”. She said that she was convinced that her successor in this position, Phil Hogan, “would continue these efforts. He will travel to Washington in early 2020 and continue to engage with members of the US administration”.
In general, MEPs once again insisted (EUROPE 12366/11) that agriculture should pay the price for the EU's trade policy (EUROPE 12355/12, 12352/16, 12349/15). The agricultural sectors, mainly in Spain, France, Ireland and Italy, are being hit hard by the sanctions applied by the United States in the Airbus dispute. Out of the €6.7 billion of imports of European products penalised by these additional duties, 60%—or €4.3 billion—are iconic EU products. Since 18 October, French wine, Spanish olives, Dutch cheese, German household appliances and Irish whisky have all been subject to a 25% tariff. To consult the text of the joint resolution, see: http://bit.ly/2OOsyfl (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)